Hydrogen passivation shut down system for a fuel cell power plant
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IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
H01M-008/04
H01M-002/02
출원번호
US-0386950
(2009-04-24)
등록번호
US-8277991
(2012-10-02)
발명자
/ 주소
Reiser, Carl A.
Skiba, Tommy
Patterson, Jr., Timothy W.
출원인 / 주소
UTC Power Corporation
대리인 / 주소
Chisholm, Jr., Malcolm J.
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
0인용 특허 :
1
초록▼
The invention is a hydrogen passivation shut down system for a fuel cell power plant (10, 200). During shut down of the plant (10, 200), hydrogen fuel is permitted to transfer between an anode flow path (24, 24′) and a cathode flow path (38, 38′). A passive hydrogen bleed line (202) permits passage
The invention is a hydrogen passivation shut down system for a fuel cell power plant (10, 200). During shut down of the plant (10, 200), hydrogen fuel is permitted to transfer between an anode flow path (24, 24′) and a cathode flow path (38, 38′). A passive hydrogen bleed line (202) permits passage of a smallest amount of hydrogen into the fuel cell (12′) necessary to maintain the fuel cell (12′) in a passive state. A diffusion media (204) may be secured in fluid communication with the bleed line (202) to maintain a constant, slow rate of diffusion of the hydrogen into the fuel cell (12′) despite varying pressure differentials between the shutdown fuel cell (12′) and ambient atmosphere adjacent the cell (12′).
대표청구항▼
1. A passive hydrogen bleed hydrogen passivation shut-down system for a fuel cell power plant (200), the system comprising: a. at least one fuel cell (12′) for generating electrical current from hydrogen containing reducing fluid fuel and oxygen containing oxidant reactant streams, the fuel cell (12
1. A passive hydrogen bleed hydrogen passivation shut-down system for a fuel cell power plant (200), the system comprising: a. at least one fuel cell (12′) for generating electrical current from hydrogen containing reducing fluid fuel and oxygen containing oxidant reactant streams, the fuel cell (12′) including an anode catalyst (14′) and a cathode catalyst (16′) on opposed sides of an electrolyte (18′), an anode flow path (24′) in fluid communication with the anode catalyst (14′) for directing the hydrogen fuel to flow through the fuel cell (12′) and adjacent the anode catalyst (14′), and a cathode flow path (38′) in fluid communication with the cathode catalyst (16′) for directing the oxidant stream to flow through the fuel cell (12′) and adjacent the cathode catalyst (14′);b. a hydrogen inlet valve (52′) secured in fluid communication with a hydrogen feed line (55′) that is secured between a fuel source (54′) and the anode catalyst (14′) for selectively directing flow of the hydrogen fuel from the fuel source (54′) through the feed line (55′) and hydrogen inlet valve (52′) to the anode catalyst (14′);c. an oxidant inlet valve (56′) secured in fluid communication with an oxidant feed line (62′) extending between an oxidant supply source (58′) and the cathode flow field (42′);d. hydrogen transfer means secured in communication between the anode flow path (24′) and the cathode flow path (38′) for selectively permitting transfer of the hydrogen fuel between the anode flow path (24′) and the cathode flow path (38′); and,e. a passive hydrogen bleed line (202) secured to the hydrogen fuel source (54′) and extending from the hydrogen fuel source (54′) to be secured to the anode flow path (24′) at a location on the anode flow path (24′) that is between the hydrogen inlet valve (52′) and the anode catalyst (14′), the passive hydrogen bleed line (202) consisting of a diffusion media (204) secured within a chamber (206) and a through flow defined by the passive hydrogen bleed line (202) for permitting consistent flow of the hydrogen from the hydrogen fuel source (54′) through the diffusion media (204) to the anode flow path (24′), wherein the passive hydrogen bleed line (202) is configured to permit passage through the bleed line (202) of hydrogen from the hydrogen fuel source (54′) to the anode flow path (24′) when the hydrogen inlet valve (52′) is in either of a closed position and an open position, and the passive hydrogen bleed line (202) is also configured to permit passage of hydrogen from the hydrogen fuel source (54′) to the anode flow path (24′) through the bleed line (202) of a lowest flow rate of hydrogen necessary to maintain the fuel cell (12′) in a passive state. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the diffusion media (204) is selected from the group consisting of a palladium membrane, a polymer membrane and a glass membrane, the membranes being of sufficient thickness to withstand a pressure differential between the fuel storage source (54′) and the anode flow path (24′). 3. A method of shutting down the fuel cell power plant (200) of claim 1, the power plant (200) including at least one fuel cell (12′) for generating electrical current from hydrogen containing reducing fluid fuel and oxygen containing oxidant reactant streams, the fuel cell (12′) including the anode catalyst (14′) and the cathode catalyst (16′) on opposed sides of the electrolyte (18′), the anode flow path (24′) in fluid communication with the anode catalyst (14′) for directing the hydrogen fuel to flow through the fuel cell (12′) and adjacent the anode catalyst (14′), and the cathode flow path (38′) in fluid communication with the cathode catalyst (16′) for directing the oxidant stream to flow through the fuel cell (12′) and adjacent the cathode catalyst (14′), the method comprising: a. disconnecting a primary load (90′) from the fuel cell (12′);b. terminating flow of the oxidant into the cathode flow path (24′) from an oxidant source (58′);c. connecting an auxiliary load (94′) to the fuel cell (12′);d. permitting transfer of the hydrogen fuel from the anode flow path (24′) into the cathode flow path (38′);e. closing a hydrogen inlet valve (52′) to terminate flow of the hydrogen fuel into the anode flow path (24′) from a hydrogen fuel source (54′) through a hydrogen feed line (55′) whenever the anode flow path (24′) and cathode flow path (38′) are filled above an acceptable limit of hydrogen to maintain the fuel cell (12′) in a passive state; and,f. directing a consistent flow of hydrogen from the hydrogen fuel source (54′) through the passive hydrogen bleed line (202) and through the diffusion media (204) of the passive hydrogen bleed line (202) into the anode flow path (24′) at a location on the anode flow path (24′) that is between the hydrogen inlet valve (52′) and the anode catalyst (14′) and at a lowest flow rate of hydrogen necessary to maintain the fuel cell (12′) in a passive state. 4. The method of claim 3, further comprising directing flow of the hydrogen through a diffusion media (204) secured in fluid communication with the passive hydrogen bleed line (202) so that hydrogen passing through passive hydrogen bleed line (202) must pass through the diffusion media (204) prior to passing into the anode flow path (24′). 5. The method of claim 4, further comprising securing the diffusion media (204) within the fuel storage source (54′) adjacent the passive hydrogen bleed line (202). 6. The method of claim 4, further comprising securing the diffusion media (204) within a diffusion chamber (206) secured in fluid communication with the passive hydrogen bleed line (202). 7. A passive hydrogen bleed hydrogen passivation shut-down system for a fuel cell power plant (200), the system comprising: a. at least one fuel cell (12′) for generating electrical current from hydrogen containing reducing fluid fuel and oxygen containing oxidant reactant streams, the fuel cell (12′) including an anode catalyst (14′) and to cathode catalyst (16′) on opposed sides of an electrolyte (18′), an anode flow path (24′) in fluid communication with the anode catalyst (14′) for directing the hydrogen fuel to flow through the fuel cell (12′) and adjacent the anode catalyst (14′), and a cathode flow path (38′) in fluid communication with the cathode catalyst (16′) for directing the oxidant stream to flow through the fuel cell (12′) and adjacent the cathode catalyst (14′);b. a hydrogen inlet valve (52′) secured in fluid communication with a hydrogen feed line (55′) that is secured between a fuel source (54′) and the anode catalyst (14′) for selectively directing flow of the hydrogen fuel from the fuel source (54′) through the feed line (55′) and hydrogen inlet valve (52′) to the anode catalyst (14′);c. an oxidant inlet valve (56′) secured in fluid communication with on oxidant feed line (62′) extending between an oxidant supply source (58′) and the cathode flow field (42′);d. hydrogen transfer means secured in communication between the anode flow path (24′) and the cathode flow path (38′) for selectively permitting transfer of the hydrogen fuel between the anode flow path (24′) and the cathode flow path (38′); and,e. a passive hydrogen bleed line (202) secured to the hydrogen fuel source (54′) and extending from the hydrogen fuel source (54′) to be secured to the anode flow path (24′) at a location on the anode flow path (24′) that is between the hydrogen inlet valve (52′) and the anode catalyst (14′), the passive hydrogen bleed line (202) consisting of a through flow defined by the passive bleed line (202) for permitting consistent flow of the hydrogen from the hydrogen fuel source (54′) to the anode flow path (24′), wherein the passive hydrogen bleed line (202) is configured to permit passage through the bleed line (202) of hydrogen from the hydrogen fuel source (54′) to the anode flow path (24′) when the hydrogen inlet valve (52′) is in either of a closed position and an open position, and the passive hydrogen bleed line (202) is also configured to permit passage of hydrogen from the hydrogen fuel source (54′) to the anode flow path (24′) through the bleed line (202) of a lowest flow rate of hydrogen necessary to maintain the fuel cell (12′) in a passive state.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (1)
Margiott,Paul R.; Preli, Jr.,Francis R.; Kulp,Galen W.; Perry,Michael L.; Reiser,Carl A.; Balliet,Ryan J., Hydrogen passivation shut down system for a fuel cell power plant.
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